Game



F. W. YQUNG July 21, 1942.

GAME

Filed Sept. 20, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FRAN/flk mun 6' ATTORNEYS F. w. YOUNG 2,290,519

GAME

Filed Sept. 20, 1939 July 21, 1942.

3, Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR FRANK PK Y U/VG' ATTORNEYS m 60 0 0 000200100 0 0 002 Mm 00200300040003002000 00 %Wmm 0. 0 000209 00 0 s ooaooi W G 23 24 23 22 23 24 23 3 W m FFFOFFFOFFFOFFFOFFFOFFF 03002000 00 00200300040Q m 0 0 00 010 00 0 0 00 0 F 00 0 0 000200 00 0 0 00 w 00200300040003002000 00;- M 0 0 01020 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 w Patented July 21, 1942 UN 1 TED STATES GAME Frank W. Young, Upper Montclair, N. J. Application'september 20-, 1939, Serial No. 295,704 4 Claims. (01. 273-93) This invention relates broadly to game apparatus and more particularly to apparatus by which a game may be played which closely simulates the game of baseball.

The primary object of the invention is apparatus by which a realistic baseball game may be played and one in which aplayer skilled in baseball strategy may manipulate the apparatus to produce plays and scorings comparable to socalled Big League baseball games.

Another object of the invention is. to provide scoring apparatus with which plays cannot be anticipated. Accordingly, the apparatus is so constructed and arranged that, as the result of one play is disclosed, the results of all other plays are simultaneously changed.

A further object'of the invention is apparatus by which the results of 'theplaysare in approximate ratio to the'a'ctual results obtainable in a game of baseball.

Yet another object of the invention is apparatus by which allpossible plays of eachplayer, such as hits, outs, stolen bases and er-' rors are disposed upon one movable'instrumentality.

It is also an object'of the invention toprovide apparatus in which the results of a play are dependent upon theselection by the player of the play to be made at any given time.

In carrying the invention into effect, in its preferred embodiment, a board is provided representing the playing surface of the game. On this board actuating means are operatively disposed, preferably in positions corresponding to those of the players in an actual game. Conveniently, a rotatable'drum carries, on its surface, a plurality of circumferentially extending columns of indicia representing the results of a play, said columns corresponding in number to the actuating means. The indicia of'the respective columns are arranged 'in rows longitudinally of the drum. Shutter means normally shield the indicia, for instance, by closing windows 'respectively disclosing an indicia'in a column and eachof the shutters is adapted to move the drum to simultaneously bring another indicia in each column in operative relation with the corresponding window.

The invention also seeks a game apparatus of the character described which-is practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture and durability and'practicability in use.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed. description,

' top 6.

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment by which the-invention may be realized, and. in which:

Figure 1 is a View, in plan, showing the playing surface of the apparatus of this invention, constructed and arranged for the purpose of playing a game of baseball;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken in the plane indicated by the broken line 2-2 of Figure l and looking in'the direction of the arrows, parts being removed to show details of construction;

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation showing details of the device indicating the results of play and taken inthe plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being removed to show details of construction; and

Figure 4 is a view showing the surface of the movable means, specifically a cylinder, on the surface of which is depicted :the indicia representing the results of various plays.

Refering first to Figures 1 and 2, the playing surface 6, (representing a baseball field, forms thetop surface of a housing comprising the top wall6 and bottom wall 8 and side walls 9 which, conveniently, maybe formed by turning upwardly the marginal portions of the bottom 8. Similarly the front end l0 may also be integral with the bottom 8. Angle-shaped brackets 'l2,secured in any convenient fashion to the walls 9 and 'HJ, asby welding, are" shown as the support for the This top 6 is removably secured to the brackets, as by bolts M, for convenient access to the interior l'iof the casing.

' At the'rear end of the apparatus, the side wall portions l6, which'are continuations of the side walls 9, extend upwardly a greater distance to form the ends of a chamber ll consisting of the front wall l8, the removable top wall 20 and a rear wall 22. Within the chamber 11' is rotatably mounted, 'as on supporting partitions 24, a cylinder 25 on the surface of which appears circumferential columns of indicia 26 representing the results of play in the game. These columns are indicated in Figure 4 as 21, 28, 29, 30, 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36'. The indicia in the respective columns are also arranged in rows, as at 38.

The cylinder 25 is shown as fixed on a shaft or axle 39, spaced in proper relation from the supporting walls 24- by collars pinned, as at 4|, tothe shaft 39. At one end, outwardly of one supporting wall 25 is a collar 42 or the equivalent. At the other end the shaft is threaded, outwardly of the supporting wall 24, to receive lock nuts 43. To insure that the drum will have a constrained movement against the friction of the collars, a spring 44, illustrated as an apertured cruciform leaf spring, bears with arms against the wall 24 and. at its center against a washer 45 bearing against the nuts 44.

On the surface 6 there is depicted a representation of a baseball diamond, the home plate being indicated at 46, the pitchers box at 41, first base at 48, second base at 49 and third base at At the positions, on this playing surface, which would be occupied by the players in an actual game are actuating means respectively representing such players. These actuating means extend through slots 53 formed in the top 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating means take the form of levers, such as the lever 62 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each lever is pivoted at its lower end, as at 51, to an upstanding ear 59 secured, say, to the upper surface of the bottom wall 8 and extends upwardly within the housing formed by the walls 8 and 6 and protrudes through the slot 53. There is one such lever for each member of a baseball team and one lever-to represent the batter. Thus the lever 55, in a baseball game, represents the catcher on the team and the lever 60 represents the batter and the lever 6| represents the pitcher. Lever 62 represents the first baseman. Lever 63 represents the second baseman. Lever 64 represents the short stop and lever 65 represents the third baseman. Lever 61 represents the right fielder and lever 69 represents the fielder in center field. Lever II represents the player in left field. All these levers are preferably similar to lever 55 in their manner of mounting and extend through slots 53 in the playing surface 6.

The results of a play are disclosed by actuating the lever representing the player selected to participate in the particular play. Since the operation of all levers is the same, this operation will be described with respect to the first baseman lever 62 (Figure 2). It is to be observed that the front wall I8 of the housing containing the drum is built with a plurality of windows 13, one window for each column of indicia, that is, one window I3 is disposed in front of each of the columns 21,28, 29, 30, 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. Were all the windows open, then a row 38 (see Figure 4) of indicia would be visible. However, only one indicia in a row is visible at a time. On at least one side and preferably on each side of each circumferential column of indicia is a circumferential series of apertures, recesses or teeth 15, which rows of recesses form ratchets. Inwardly of each window 13 is a shutter 11 which is suspended, by a tension member illustrated as a coil spring 19, from a rod 8| extending across the upper portion of the housing l1 and conveniently supported in the supporting walls 24. To the lower end of the shutter 11, as to an ear 18 formed thereon, is attached a cable 82 which extends downwardly through a guide 83 and then about the groove 84 in a roller 85 also conveniently journalled in the wall 24 and then to an ear lilpivoted on the lever 62.

The shutter 11 is retained in elevated position obscuring view through the window 13 by the tension means 19. Upon moving the lever from the full line position to the broken line position, in Figure 2, the shutter is drawn downwardly until the aperture 88 therein is in register with the window 13 and at this time exposes an indicia 26 on the drum 25. Shutter I1 is also provided with one or more pawls or teeth 89 conveniently formed by bending inwardly portions of the side edges of the shutter I1. Thus normally, under the influence of the spring 19, the pawls 89 are above their lowermost possible position and engage or are in position to engage one or a pair of the recesses 15 formed in the drum 25. When the lever is drawn backwardly to the broken line position, the shutter is pulled down to open the window and simultaneously with its downward movement causes the drum to rorotate one step to bring a subsequent indicia in each column before a window. The indicia, of

course, represent the results of the plays and, since they are all mounted on the same drum,

when the shutter is moved to open a window, the indicia are all simultaneously changed so that the result of a play actually indicated is different from that which was in the window before the shutter was actuated. It is practically impossible for a player to memorize all the sequences of the indicia so as to be able to select a lever in anticipation of a given result, as will be brought out more fully hereinafter. When the lever is released the spring draws the shutter upwardly to again close the window 13, the drum remaining stationary in a manner next to be described and the shutter and pawl 89 occupying their uppermost position again.

The drum is prevented from rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure '2, by providing the drum with a ratchet 9| or the equivalent and a pawl 93 is operatively disposed with respect to the ratchet to prevent the drum rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, but permitting its movement in a clockwise direction under the action of the fingers 89 on the shutter 11. Thus, every time a lever is pulled, the drum is first moved to change the indicia behind all of the windows and then the window corresponding to the lever that was pulled is opened to disclose one indicia in that column. The wall formed with the row of windows thus functions as a score board giving the results of plays.

In order to comprehend the operation of the apparatus of this invention in playing a game, as for instance a game of baseball, a description of how the apparatus is used in 'playing a game will now be given. It will be understood that the rules of regulation baseball are followed. The game may be played like an actual game of baseball and the player using the best baseball skill should win. .Two persons may play a game of baseball using the apparatus of this invention, each person representing a team of players. The players act as pitcher or batter, as the case may be, in this instance, by rolling dice instead of itching a ball or swinging a bat, and by pulling levers instead of running bases or fielding the ball. The player representing the team in the field is the pitcher and the player representing the team at bat is the batter. Small figures 95 of baseball players or other men may be used to indicate the batter and the man or men on base so that, after a single a runner may be placed on first base or after a double a runner may be placed on second base. The men on base advance as in the regular ga e of baseball.

The pitcher is the first to play and throws two dice. If he throws an even number (not a double) or the number eleven (11) it is a ball. If the pitcher throws an odd number but not a seven ('7) or eleven (11), it is a strike. After a strike the batter throws the dice. If the batter matches the number .just thrown by the pitcher he hasmade a hit. After a. hit. the batter pulls the batter lever 60. This uncovers an i'ndicia'i-n column 33 and the batter'takesthe number of' bases indicated by the indicia in thatcolumn. If the-batterdoes not throw,- with: the dice, the same number that the pitcher threw; it remains a strike andthe pitcher throws the dice again.

All doubles thrown by the pitcher are foul balls. After a foul ball, the pitcher may pull the catcher lever and thescoreboard I8, 18 (i. e., column 32) registers either a zerofor out, i. e., that the foul has been caught or F for a foul ball counted as a strike, until, as is customary, the-batter has two strikes. After four balls the batter takes his base; after three strikes the batter is out- After three outs the side is retired for that. inning. Nine innings constitute a game.

When the pitcher throws a seven (7) it is a fair hit ball and the batter then pulls any lever except the batter lever according to where he Wishes the play to be made. If a zero appears in the window the batter is out; if the numeral one (.1) appears inthe window it is a single and a runner is placed onfirst base. If the numeral. two (2) appears it is a double; if the numeral three (3) appears, it is a three base hit and if the numeral four (45) appears, it is a home run. With one man on base, the player may then try tostealabaseby simply announcing for example man onzbase is going to try to steal second, then he pulls the lever at the base to .be stolen, i. e., at second base. If zero appears at thewindow 13 of the column. 34,. the player is considered put out at second; If thenumeral' one (1') appears he is safe- If the numeral two (2) appears at the window this. indicates that an error has occurred and the-runner is permitted to take another base. To steal home, the catcher lever 55"must be pulled three times. The indicia F (column 32) must be registered three times in succession to have the runner steal home while any zero indicates that the runner is out.

For'advanced baseball players, that is, those familiar with. the game of baseball, many variations may be made to permit the game to approach baseball perfection. Thus a six (6) and a one (1) rolled by the two dice may represent fair ground balls, a five and a two (2) and also a four (4') and a three (3) may represent fair fiy'ba'lls, and the men on bases are played accordingly.- For example, with men on first base and second base and none out, a fair fly ball, that is, a-five (5) and a two (2) or a four (4) and a three (3) cannot be played as an infield fair ball'. If so played, regardless of the indication on the score board, the batter is out, in accordance with the regulation infield fly rule. Sacrifice hits may also be provided for. Thus, with a man on base and none or one out, the batter getting a ground fair ball may play the pitcher or third base lever for a sacrifice hit. If he gets a zero, i. e., an out he must then pull the second base-lever to complete the sacrifice. If he gets a zero the man on first is out and it is a double may; if he gets a one 1) the runher is safe. If he gets a two (2), it is an error and the runner takes another base. Again with a man on third base and none or one out, a fly ball may be played in left field for a sacrifice fly. If the left field lever registers zero he may then try to bring the runner home from third by pulling the catcher lever. A "zero indicates the man is out; if F appears, he is safe. After a and gets a zero, i. e., and out, the batter may try to bring the runner home after the catch by pulling the catcher lever. A zero indicates the runner to be out and an F indicates that the runner is safe at home.

Again the pitcher may play for a double. For example, with a manon first and a fair ground ball (not a hit) should the batters play show an out, the pitcher may pull the second base lever. If it registers zero, he makes a double play (two outs) while the. registering of the number one (1) indicates. safe and of the number two (2) an error and the runner takes another base.

With a runner on second, if the batter gets a single, the runner on second may be brought home by (a) pulling the third base lever and getting two (2); or (b) pulling the third base lever and getting one (1) and then pulling the catcher lever and getting F. A zero at third base or catcher is an out. Or with a runner on third base, if the batter gets a double, the runner on first may be brought home by pulling the catcher lever twice, two Fs is safe, and F and a zero is out.

To intentionally put a man on first base in the hope of a double play, the pitcher announces, I purposely walk that man, and the batter must place a runner on first base. When eleven (11) is thrown successively, the first eleven (11), as usual, is a ball, The second eleven (11) may be a ball but may also be a wild pitch and any men on base advance one base. In general, the pitcher should pull the catcher lever and the batter should pull all other levers. With men on bases, if the batter plays a fair ball in such a way that a double play isprobable, the pitcher may pull the base lever for the second put out. Also the batter may have the right to pull the catcher lever when he is trying tobring a man home from third base after a fair ball out, or if the pitcher pulls a boner" by playing the catcher lever on a foul ball with none'or one out and a man on third, then the batter has the right to pull the catcher lever to try to bring the man home from third. base-after the catch, when. zero is out and F is ;safe'.

To illustrate the fact that the' game of this invention requires skill in its-manipulation, the following illustrations aregiven of different final results from the same play of'dice, tabulated more or less for ease in comparison:

a) Let it be assumed that the pitcher rolls dice resulting in four balls and thus puts a man on first base.

(b) Thereafter; let. it be assumed that the pitcher then rolls a six (6) and a one 1) which equals a ground fair ball. Should the batter then play the thirclbase lever and get a zero, there will be one out.

(c) The batter may then play the second base lever and gets a one ('1) which resultsin the man on first advancing to second base onthe sacrifice out of (b).

(d) The pitcher then rollsa four. (4) andaone (1) which is a strike and the batter rolls a three (3) and a two (2), which matches the five (5) rolled by the pitcher and thus obtains a hit. The batter then plays the batter lever and gets a one 1) and the batter goes to first base and the man on second base goes to third base.

(e) The pitcher rolls a four (4) and a three (3), whichrepresents a fair fly ball. The batter pulls the left field lever and gets a zero which equals an out. Then the batter pulls the catcher lever and gets an F which represents that the man on third base comes home after the catch of the fly out.

(f) The pitcher then rolls equals an out.

The results of this inning as so played by the players not only in rolling the dice but in selecting the levers to pull and the numerals which appeared by chance at the windows is as follows:

One hit One run One man left on base three strikes which The same inning may be played with the same plays by the pitcher but with different plays by the batter to give an entirely different result, as follows:

(a) Let it be assumed that the pitcher rolls dice resulting in four (4) balls and thus puts a man on first base.

(b) Thereafter let it be assumed that the pitcher then rolls a six (6') and a one (1) which equals a ground fair ball. Should the batter then play the third base leverand get a zero, there will be one out.

The batter does not play the second base lever which results in the man on first remaining on first after the out of (b).

(d) The pitcher then rolls four (4) and one (1) which is a strike and the batter rolls a three (3) and a two (2) which matches the five (5) rolled by the pitcher and thus obtains a hit. The batter then plays the batter lever and gets a one (1) and the batter goes to first base and the man on first base goes to second base.

(e) The pitcher rolls a four (4) and a three (3) which represents a fair fly ball. The batter pulls the left field lever and gets a zero" which equals an out. The batter in this case cannot pull the catcher lever to try and bring a man home from third after the catch of the fly out because he has no man on third base.

(f) The pitcher then rolls three strikes which equals an out.

The results of this inning as so played then result as follows:

One hit No runs Two men left on base It will thus be seen that a very realistic game of baseball may be played with the apparatus of this invention. The indicia in the different columns and in the different rows on the drum 26 may be so selected and their sequence and relative positions so determined as to give results within the reasonable results of an actual baseball game, so that the final scores will be of the same magnitude as those of the actual game. By this construction also, it is impossible for an average player to carry in his head a mental picture of all the columns and rows and keep track of the changes as each lever is pulled so as to anticipate a particular result by the selection of a lever.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition, configuration and disposition of the various component elements going to make up the invention as a whole as well as in the selection and/or combination of features herein disclosed, and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawings, except as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Game apparatus comprising a board representing the playing surface of a game, actuating means operatively disposed upon the board in positions corresponding to those of the players of the game, a rotatable drum provided on its surface with a plurality of circumferentially extending columns of indicia representing the results of play and corresponding in number to the actuating means, shutters normally shielding the indicia, operative connections between the,

shutters and the actuating means, respectively, each of said shutters each comprising means to move the drum to bring another indicia in operative relation with each shutter.

2. Game apparatus comprising a board representing the playing surface of a game, actuating means operatively disposed upon the board in positions corresponding to those of the players of the game, a rotatable drum provided on its surface with a plurality of circumferentially extending rows of indicia representing the results of play and corresponding in number to the actuating means, a housing for the drum, a plurality of windows in the housing each disclosing an indicia of a different row, shutters normally shielding the indicia, operative connections between the shutters and the actuating means, respectively, each of said shutters comprising means to move the drum to bring another indicia in operative relation with each shutter.

3. Game apparatus comprising a board representing the playing surface of a game, a rotatable member provided on its surface with a plurality of columns of indicia representing the results of play, shutters normally shielding the indicia, and means corresponding in number to the number of columns of indicia operatively disposed upon the board in positions corresponding to those of the players of the game to actuate simultaneously the shutters and the rotatable member to move the rotatable member to simultaneously bring another indicia in operative relation with each shutter and move the shutter to disclose the said indicia.

4. Game apparatus comprising a board representing the playing surface of a game, a rotatable member provided on its surface with a plurality of rows of indicia representing the results of play, shutter means normally shielding the indic1a of the respective rows and comprising shutter actuating means corresponding in number to the number of players of the game and operatively disposed upon the board in positions corresponding to those of the players of the game to actuate simultaneously said shutters and the rotatable member to move the rotatable member to simultaneously bring another indicia in operatlve relation with each shutter and move the shutter to disclose the said indicia.

FRANK W. YOUNG. 

